Reaction on Thursday was predictable. The Green Party said Jim Flaherty delivered a budget that was “tough on nature”; the Ottawa Citizen said he delivered one that “includes major changes to … the size of government”; the Communications Workers of America Canada said: “Federal budget threatens Canada’s social and cultural fabric”. But I was there and I can tell you the government did not deliver a budget at all.

John Robson of Earth here to report that, if the daily barrage of horrible news makes you wish you were on some other planet, it’s safe to visit Mars. Sure, the vicious giant six-legged white apes are a bit of an issue. But hey, life’s tough everywhere.